Mail handling apparatus



M. W. STEWART MAIL HANDLING APPARATUS March 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet lFiled June 20, 1958 March .22, 1960 M. w. STEWART 2,929,490

MAIL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 N VENTORMae/GK Mk'wq/er ATTORNEYS March 22, 1960 M. w. STEWART MAIL HANDLINGAPPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 20, 1958 INVENTOR WSH/mer JATTORNEYS March 22, 1960 M. w. STEWART MAIL HANDLING APPARATUS FiledJune 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1L` ToMaToR J ATTORNEYS ngilv States PatentMAIL HANDLING APPARATUS Merrick W. Stewart, Silver Spring, Md., assignorto Emerson Radio & Phonograph Corporation, Jersey City, N l acorporation of New York Application June 20, 1958, Serial No. 743,386

20 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) The present invention relates to apparatus andsystems for handling and stacking flat light articles and especiallyletters.

In our current economy the expeditious handling and processing of mailhas become vital to the eicient conduct of business and communication.The volume of mail pieces has become so large as to encumber andliterally swamp postal facilities, especially at the metropolitan postoliices handling many million pieces .0f mail daily. The problems ofconveying, cancelling, sorting vand stacking this great volume ofvarious shapes and -sizes of mail pieces have heretofore not beeneiciently solved, resulting not only in delays of delivery of mail, butalso uneconomic utilization of supplies, equipment and manpower.

The present invention is particularly adapted for use with (but is notlimited to) mail handling apparatus described and claimed in thecopending application Serial No. 686,529 of R. F. Blake, S. I. Goodmanand I. I. Rudigier, for Automatic Mail Cancelling Apparatus filedSeptember 26, 1957, copending application Serial No. 724,646, of I.Mathis for Automatic Mail Handling Apparatus led March 22, 1958, andcopending application Serial No. 732,330 of S. l. Goodman and l. J.Rudigier, for Mail Handling Apparatus, led May l, 1958, all of which areassigned to the same assignee as the present application.

The apparatus of these prior applications is suitable for accepting arapid stream of single mail pieces travelling at a high, substantiallyconstant speed of the order of l() inches per second. The individualpieces of this stream of mail are oriented into a vertical plane withtheir longer edges horizontal, and may have the stamps carried on thefront face or reverse face, at the top or at the bottom, or at theleading edge or trailing edge of the envelope. This single le stream ofunfaced letter pieces enters cancelling apparatus which automaticallyapplies a cancellation imprint at the exact position of the stamp on theenvelope despite the fact that the stamps may occur at differentpositions on different letters and despite any unevenness of separationor repetition of letters in the stream. The single file stream ofcancelled letter pieces enters a director unit which sorts the stream ofletters into groups according to predetermined characteristics inresponse to electrical signals. The letters in any one group may havetheir stamps at a similar corresponding position in relation to thelength of the envelope, i.e., either adjacent the leading edge or thetrailing edge of the envelopes, regardless of Whether the stamp is onthe front face or rear face.

The present invention is particularly concerned with converting a streamof high speed, irregularly spaced mail pieces into a uniform stack ofmail pieces in response to electrical signals which may, for example,correspond to the face of the envelope that the stamp is on.

Another object of the present invention is to convert a verticallyoriented, high speed, irregularly spaced P l* ce, 2,929,490

Paienied Mar. 22, 1aed 2 Y stream of mail pieces, with the stampsthereon all in the same corresponding position in relation to the lengthof the envelope, but randomly on the front or rear faces, into a facedand uniform stack in response to electrical signals.

By faced mail is meant that all envelopes are arranged the same way withthe addresses upright on the front face thereof as viewed, placing thestamps generally in the upper right hand corner of the envelopes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusthat will accept an intermittent input flow of high speed, at, lightarticles, align these articles ,into a stack where all the articles aresimilarly positioned, and to allow the removal of the articles from thestack Without disturbing the stack and without causing any mal.-function of the apparatus.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means thatwill convert a iluctuating input flow of at, light vertically orientedarticles with each article having one face with predeterminedcharacteristics thereon, into a uniform stack having the faces of thearticles with the characteristics thereon all positioned similarly inresponse to electrical signals corresponding t0 the position of thepredetermined characteristics.

These and other objects of the present invention Will become more fullyapparent from consideration of the following description of a preferredembodiment, taken in conjunction with the appended drawings, in whichFig. l is a diagram showing a part of a general mail handling systemincorporating the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a preferred form of the present inventionincluding both facer aud stacker units; s

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation view partially in cross-sec'- tion of thefacer unit of Figures 2 and 3 viewed along line 4 4 thereof; f

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevation view of Figure 4 takenalong line 5 5;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional plan view vof, Figure 4 takenalong line 6 6;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional elevation View of Figures 2 and 3 vtakenalong line 7 7 thereof;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation View of Figure 7 taken along line 8 8;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevation view of Fig. 2 taken along line 9 9;and

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of the pressure rollers and air jet ofFigures 4 and 5.

The present invention receives a high, substantially constant speedinput stream of irregularly spaced single mail pieces standingvertically on their long edges. This stream of mail is illustrativelyderived from the output of a director apparatus indicated generally at30 in -Figure 1, which may be of the form shown in the above mentionedMathis application.

The director apparatus 3G, in turn receives an input of a high andsubstantially constant speed -ow of single mail pieces having apredetermined minimum spacing between the pieces, which isillustratively derived from the output of a sensing and cancellingapparatus, indicated generally at 20 in Figure l. The sensing andcancelling apparatus 20 may be of the form shown in the above mentionedBlake et al. application. In the manner described in detail in the abovementioned Blake et al. and Goodman et al. applications, a continuousstream of letter mail in single file enters the sensing and cancellingapparatus 20 travelling in a direction as indicated by arrow 21, andpasses two sensing units 22 and 23; unit 23 cooperates with the frontface of each letter and unit 22 with the rear face. Each vof `thesesensing units produces electrical signals correspondingH to' thepresence and position" o`f"tlie s'tmp'appea'ring Von each letter as itpasses the sensing unit. These elecanni?? regardless of the position kofthe stamp on the envelope,

atus without operation `of the cancelling units '24 or .25

at all.

The cancelled mail pieces upon leaving the sensing and'cancellingapparatus 20 enter-'the director apparatus 3.0`bet'w'e'en'jthe' drivenrollers 32.A vIn .tlie'rna'nner de scribed in detail in the abovementioned Mathis application, the director apparatus 30 utilizessuitable electrical signals, obtained in the manner described in theGoodman et al. application, for Vseparating letters of a rapidly flowingstream into predetermined groups Without any change of speed. Bysynchronizing these signals to the passage of letters, the letterscorresponding to the electrical signals are diverted and sorted, sothat, for example, all letters having their stamps inthe samecorresponding position can be grouped. Figure l shows an v the'rontfaceorv the rear face of the envelope.' All other envelopes, including thosewhich'are to be rejected, continue undiverted along the path 34 `forfurther sorting,

described in the Mathis'application and are not fur'- thei' discussedinYthis application.

It is desirable to be able to face the cancelled envelopes and thenstack the facedV envelopes preliminary" to routing them to theiraddressed destinations.` The presenty invention permits accomplishmentof these results by providing an apparatus responsive to suitableelectrical usignals for'facing the lettersand subsequently Vstackingthem. -The Goodman et al. application mentioned above describes andclaims suitable apparatus lfor producing electrical `signalsrepresentative of the stamp location and reference is made to it for amore complete disclosure of that part of the present system. In essence,each envelope produces a signal representative of whether the stamp ispositioned on the front or rear face of the envelope and the presentinvention utilizes that Vsignal to face its corresponding envelope.

The present invention thus receives an irregular stream of cancelledinail, in which the letters have corresponding stamp positions withrespect to length (i.e., are all at the leading or all at the trailingenvelope edge), :faces the stream so that all letters arep'ositionedwithV their stamps facing* the same relative direction (sothat the addresses on the lettersare all facing the' same direction),and then stacks Vthe faced letters in a lsuitable manner to permit'their extraction from the stack for subsequent 'operations such asrouting and dispatching.

Fig. 1 shows an illustrative system incorporating the present invention,with a facer-stacker 'unit-$6. which re- Y '4 ceives the output of thenal stage of the directing appai'tus 30. Fcer-'staclef/"nit/'Sreceives"in`"itsl inpt channel 40, vertically oriented letters that havetheir stamps positioned adjacent the leading edge, either on the frontface or rear face. The face-stacker unit 36 then operates to rotate eachof the vertically disposed envelopes degrees in a respective requiredsense so that they assume horizontal positions with the yfaces havingthe stamps thereon all facing the same direction, such as upward.Subsequently these envelopes are shingled and stacked. By shingling ismeant that the `mail pieces are successively partially overlapped.

The structure of the facer unit is shown more in detail in Figures 2 to6.r YReferring to Figure 4, an inputchannel 40 for letters is providedby means of vertical side guides 133 and a plate 122 forming a channelfloor. The floor 122 is spaced from the lower edgesof the guides 133 bya distance slightly less than the minimum width of letters expected ortobe accommodated. n

A drum or roller 101 is continuously rotated in the sense indicated bythe arrow adjacent to it by suitable means, suchas a pulley 1,03 whichis vrotated by "a belt 105, that is"driven inturn by a suitable motorand pulley not shown. 'A simlar'drum lor roller 102 isl alsocontinuonslyfr'otted as by a pulley 104 which is rotated by a' rbelt 106driven suitably, las from anothere'orthe saine motor means. Each of thedrums 102 and 101 drives a respective vacuum belt 4107 and 107whosestructure is described in more detail below. The arrangementof thetwo vacuum belts 107 and 107f with their respective vacuum apparatus tobe described is symmetrical about the vertical axis of the unit Vasviewed in Figure 4 and,

accordingly, only the left side of the unit as Yviewed in Figure 4 needbe described in detail. Corresponding elements of the right side of theunit are given the same reference numerals as the apparatus toY bedescribed hereafter, but are primed. Y

Belt 107 rotates about an end ,idler drum or roller 109 anda smallerintermediate idler Vroller 111 whereby 'the belt 107 has a straightportion indicated at 112 between rollers 111 and'109.V InY cooperationwith the straight portion 112 of belt 107 and in`close juxtapositionthereto is provided a flat face/113 of a mani'fold'lilft.A The face 113of manifold 114 is provided with a horizontal row of ports in the vforniof slots 121 with each slot extending vertically from a bottom surface122 of the input channel 40 upwardly Ia' distance substantially equal,to orV the same order `of 'magnitude as the smallest width envelopeexpected to be handled. As seenmost clearly Ain Figure 5, the b elt 107is `provided with corresponding endless vertical rows of holes orapertures 123, and each row of apertures 123 is in register with acorresponding slot121. The vertical interval between successiveapertures 123 in each'verticalrow of ,suchl holes is such that Yeachslot 121 will always communicate with at least one of the Vholes 123 inits respective row. Each hole 123 has a diameter at yleast equal to thewidth of its cooperating slot 121, but considerably smaller than thelength of that slot 121.

A vacuum vpressure or suction is applied to vmanifold 114, through aninlet channel 124 from a vacuum line 128, whichY is connected to asuitable source of vacuum such as an air pump. In inlet channel 124 islocated a buttery valve 126 operatively rconnected to a solenoid 127. Asviewed in Figure 6 andas will be seen below, the valve 126 is normallyin a position closing the inlet channel '124 .so as to cut off theapplication of vacuum to the'rnanifold 114;

The lower oor 122 .of input channel 40 has a slight gap 48 between itand the belt 1'07 suliicient to pass the vmaximum thickness of fa.letter expected to `be used'with the present invention.

' The belt 107 between the rollers 111 and 102 has an i inclinedVportion 116. At the upper end of the inclined portion 'of belt 1 07 areaV series'ocf rollers 117 riding thereon and pressed thereagainst,

-best 'shown in Figure 1-0, rollers 117 are'pivotally.

mountedon a horizontal shaft 119 .and each adjoining. pair of rollers117 is urged against vacuum belt 107 or its counterpart 107' by actionof a leaf-type spring 118. Shaft 119 is hollow and is coupled as by asuitable pipe or tube 51 to a source of air pressure such as acompressor 52, suitably driven, as by a motor 164. Hollow shaft 119 hasa series of holes 120 spaced longitudinally along its axis so that aplurality of jets of air are aimed downwardly along belt 107 andsimilarly along belt 107. In order to prevent the belt 107 from shiftingaxially during rotation, as best seen in Figure 6, a V-belt 132 isformed integral with or is secured to the belt 107, and belt 132 isreceived in an annular peripheral groove 131 provided in roller 102substantially at said rollers center. Similarly the other rollersaboutwhich belt 107 rotates may have similar annular grooves so placedas to receive V-belt 132.

' The arrangement of belt 107, manifold '114, and associated structurethus far described is repeated as a symmetrical .mirror-image versionfor the right side of the.

.apparatus 'as viewed in Figure 4.

Extending below drums 101 and 102 is a horizontal. longitudinal verticalstraight portions 112 and 112 of the vacuum belts 107.

and 107 respectively, and extend downwardly to such a -depth as to leaveexposed the portions of said vacuum belts abutting the manifold slots121 and 121. In addition, guides 133 may extend but partly across thewidth of belts 107 and 107 if desired. The end wall 50 of input channel40 is connected to spring biased dashpots 53. The input chamber istherefore delined by the bottoni surface 122, the end wall 50 and sidewalls constituted partly by the guides 133 and partly by the belts 107and 107'. As the letters enter the input channel 40 they have a highkinetic velocity corresponding to their rate of travel which asindicated above may illustratively be' of the order of 150 inches persecond. The letters impinge upon the end wall 50 which absorbssubstantially all vof the kinetic energy of the envelopes to bring theletter to rest without rebounding. As the letter ceases its forwardvelocity, either solenoid 127 or 127 is energized by its respectiveelectrical signal. The particular solenoid energized depends upon thesignal received from the sensing units 22 or 23. As indicated above, thesensing units 22 or 23 will provide signals indicative of the positionof the stamp on the envelope. In the manner described in detail in theabove mentioned Goodman et al. application, each letter produces asignal, and by suitably circuitry there described, the output facingsignal produced will correspond to whether the stamp is on the frontface or on the' rear fac'e of the envelope. Alternatively, the facingsignal for one solenoid may be provided by adding together all the inputsignals to one set of canceller heads disclosed in Pollak applicationSerial No. 700,860, filed December 5, 1957 for Mail Cancelling Apparatusand the Like, and that for the other solenoid may be provided by addingtogether all the input signals to the other set of canceller heads ofthat Pollak application. Depending upon whether a front face or a rearface signal is produced, a corresponding buttery valve 126 or 126' isactuated by its respective solenoid 127 or 127' to supply vacuum to theproper manifold 114 or 114' substantially at the instant the letter thatinitiated the signal comes to rest.

' In operation, a letter illustratively having a stamp positioned on therear face of its leading edge will be ejected into the input chamber ata high velocity. 'Ihe letter will slide along the bottom surface 122 ofthe input chamber between guides 133 due to its kinetic energy, and willimpinge on the damping end wall 50. The electrical facing signalproduced in response tothe passage of the by the system of the Goodmanet al. application to energize solenoid 127 and rotate the buttery valve126 to' open, causing a vacuum pressure to be applied to manifold 124just at the instant that the letter which created that electric signalis brought to a stop. Since a horizontal set of belt apertures 123 isthen in register with the slots 121 of the manifold 114, vacuum pressureapplied to the manifold 114 is operative to attract the lower portion ofthe envelope to the vertically moving vacuum belt 107, which transportsthe envelope past the lower floor 122 of the input chamber through thegap 48 between belt 107 and the oor 122. As the belt 107 travels fromthe roller 111 toward roller 102, the envelope which is vacuum-held toit then passes between the pressure rollers 117 and the belt 107, whichdiverts the lower edge of the letter away from the central vertical axisof the apparatus. The letter continues essentially parallel to theslanted portion 116 of the belt 107 under action of the pressure rollers117. As the upper longitudinal edge of the envelope leaves the influenceof the pressure roller 117, the envelope is no longer vacuum-held to thebelt, and the interaction of the pull of gravity on the letter and thejets of air pressure applied downwardly along belt 107 through holes 120in shaft 119 causes the upper edge of the envelope to rotate clockwise,as viewed in Figure 4, away from the belt 107 and to fall to ahorizontal position on the horizontal conveyor belt 136 with the stampand the address on the letter facing in a given sense, such as upwardly.As the vacuum belt rotates about roller 102, a wiping action by theletter deector 134 prevents any letter that may have adhered to the belt(as by static electricity) from being pulled around roller 102, and theletter defiector 134 also provides a seal for the horizontal conveyorbelt 136.

The use of the long slots 121 of the manifold 114 assures that eachletter which is attracted to the belt 107 by vacuum pressure remainsunder positive pressure engagement with the belt for a suflicientdistance for it to become engaged with the rollers 117 and to bepositively transported from the upper input chamber to the lower exitchamber of the apparatus, defined by the horizontal belt 136 and theslanted surfaces 116, 116 of belts 107, 107.

In a like manner, a letter entering unit 36 having its stampedpositioned on the front face, is sucked against vacuum belt 107', uponactuation of valve 126', and is transported through gap 48 intoengagement with roller 117', and caused to rotate counterclockwise, asviewed in Figure 4 away from belt 107 and to fall in a horizontalposition on the conveying belt 136 with its stamp and address facingupwardly. The belt 136 traverses a horizontal path and has thesuccessive letters placed thereon in a horizontal position with all theenvelopes having the stamps in the same corner and facing the samedirection, so that the envelopes are faced.

The conveyor belt 136 does not move at uniform speed but moves stepwisein intermittent fashion a given distance, illustratively of the order ofone half inch, in response to the impingement of each input envelope onthe end wall 50 in the manner described below. The letters falling onbelt 136 are therefore shingled in overlapping relationship.

In Figs. 3 and 5 is illustrated one manner in which the movement of thebelt 136 may be controlled by the letter ow. A letter-sensing limitswitch 55 is mounted to be 168, and pulley 166 is suitably coupled toroller 171 of.

,eist-*Matr conveyor 136. In `view of .the possibly irregular How -ofletters entering each facer-stacker unit, the letter-actuated type ofoperation has .the advantage of preventing operation of the conveyorbelt 136 except when letters are actually being placed thereon.

' The shingled letters thus produced are conveyed by ybelt 136 tothe farend of the unit where a curved inclined plate 151 is located as shown inFig. 9. The over.-y lapped, shinglel condition of the successiveenvelopes assures that as each envelope attains the end of the belt 136,it is pushedonto the plate 151 by the belt 136 and by the subsequentletters, so that the entire stream of letters proceeding stepwise onbelt 136 vbecomes stacked on the curved plate 151 suitable for easyremoval with-V out any interruption of the flow of mail pieces. Suitablelimit means can be provided to sound or exhibit a warning signal when anover-supply of envelopes have been stacked so as'to avoid jamming at thefacer unit.

-ln order to avoid undesirable possible jamming of the letters beingmoved stepwise along belt 136, as shown more clearly in Fig. 7, thesides 172-, and 173 of the channel along whichV letters are conveyed bybelt 136 are slanted inwardlyy to guide Ythe letters into a single stackon the sloping end plate 151. In addition, the sidewall 172 iscontinuously oscillated by means of a puslhrod 176 operated by aneccentric cam 177 rotated by motor 164. The side wall 172 is pivotallyhinged at 1,73 and has an arm 179 engaging the rod 176 which is normallyurged downwardly by a compression spring li which keeps the end of rod176 against cam 177. Side wall 173 is spring-loaded by means of springs183 so that in the case of any letter jams it will give in response toany outward pressure but it normallyY remains inthe inwardly slantedYposition shown.

Due to the intermittent forward movement of the conveyor belt 136, asthe conveyor belt 136receives letters thereon it causes each mail pieceto partially overlap the mail piece preceding it, and in turn it ispartially overlapped by the'mail piece following it. As this shingledstream of mail advances on belt 13,6, the oscillating movement of sidewall 172 against the longitudinal edges of the letters, whichv istransverse to the flow of the s gledf' mail, urges the mail piecesagainst normally stationary side wall 173 which causes the mail piecesto be properly dressed.

The presentV invention thus provides an apparatus adapt.v edv to acceptahigh speed, vertically oriented, intermittentow of letter pieces, orthe like, having, different stamp orientations, and by the usegof facingbelts rotating vertically about horizontal transverse axes, the lettersare rotated onto, a, horizontal conveyor belt with the envelopesproperly faced and shingled. As the conveyor belt, advances, a side wallof the conveyor belt oscillates` transversely against the longitudinalsides of the shingledY letters on the conveyor to dress the mailpieces.Y The ydressed and faced mail pieces are then collected on aninclined plate in uniform stacks suitable forsubsequent operations'.

It will be noted that the side wall 172 is oscillated by an 'eccentriccam and follower attached to the side wall 172 for dressing the mail onthe conveyor belt 136; It will be, understood that other suitable meansfor oscillating Wall 172 may be used, such as pneumatic or electricalmeans.' t

The particular solenoidfarrangement shown for operating the butterflyvalves 126 and-126' to apply vthe vacuum is illustrative only and anysuitable means. for applying vacuum'in response to signals indicative ofstamp loca-v tion may beused; also signals other than Velectricalsignals may be used to. actuate the vacuumsource, so long as: the

signal. is suitably synchronized with the passage of the.V

stampbearing envelope.

-In addition, signals representing characteristics other.thanstamplocationon flat articlesto be faced and stackedniay`a`l`soheusedi andztheapparatus .describedand claimed,

is in no sense limited to-use with letters, but ,can similarly be usedwith respect to other articles, particularly'y those which are at andrelatively light.

What is claimed is:

1. An' apparatus forfacing and stacking a high velocity stream ofvertically oriented letters moving longitudinally on edge and havingstamps thereon adjacent the same corresponding vertical edge, inresponse to electrical sig.- nals representative of the presence ofstamps-upon said letters, comprising a damping wall disposed in the pathof said letter flow and perpendicular thereto, kinetic-energy-absorbingmeans coupled to said damping wall for bringing to rest input lettersimpinging upon said damping wall, a rst stationary vacuum manifold onone side A of the path of said input letters having a surfacesubstantially perpendicular to said damping wall and adjacent thereto, asecond stationary vacuum manifold on vthe other side of said letter pathhaving a surface perpendic?v ular to said damping wall and adjacentthereto, a first continuous belt sliding against the surface of saidfirstv manifold and moving perpendicular to said letter'ow, a Y secondcontinuous belt sliding against theY surface of said second manifold andmoving similarly perpendicular to said letter ilow., each of said beltshaving a portion sim-e ilarly inclined at an acute angle from the planeof itsy respective manifold surface, each of said manifolds having anarray of apertures in its said surfaceabutting said. continuous beltsand each of said belts having an array of apertures, said respectivearrays beingy adapted to come into registry during movement of saidbelts relative to said manifold surfaces, the apertures on one of saidarrays being elongated and of a length sufficient to encompass at leastevery successive pair of registerable apertures of the other array, avacuum pressure supply means for connectingsaid vacuum pressure supplyto said manifolds, firstv valve means interposed between said vacuumpressure supply and said first manifold, second valve meansinterposedbetween said vacuum supply and said second manifold, re-Aspective solenoid means coupled to each of said valve means and eachresponsive to an electrical signal corresponding to a letter for openingone of said valve means for connecting said vacuum pressure supply toone of' said manifolds synchronously with the impingement of said letteron said damping wall, -whereby vacuum pressure in` saidmanifold isadapted to hold said letter against a` respective belt for transporttherewith, pressure rollers resiliently urged against each of theinclined portions of" said belts adjacent an edge of its respectivemanifold. whereby said letters transported by saidv belts. engage saidrollers and are displaced from the plane of the surface. of saidmanifolds, conveying means below said belts, means applying a pluralityof jets of air along each in clined portion of each beltin the directionof movement of said belt for rotatingthe said letters onto saidconveying means as said letters are disengaged by said pressure rollers,the letters of one belt being rotated in an'opposite direction from theletters of the other belt, so that said letters have the stamps thereonpositioned similarly-and faced in the same direction, means forperiodically advancing saidconveying means in timed relation toimpingement of said' letters on said damping wall for positioning4 saidletters in successive overlapping relation, an oscillatory wall adjacenta longitudinal edge of said vcon-V veying means and adjacentfalongitudinal edgeof said'- letters thereon, means for oscillating saidwall transversely to the, flow of said letters, whereby said wallduringl oscillation is urged periodically against the longitudinal edgesof said letters to dress them,.and an upwardly in.- clined surface inthepath of said lettersl adjacent tothe endA ofgsaid conveying means foraccumulating saidzletters in a stack. Y

2. An apparatus for facing and stacking a highvelclc-` ity streamofvertically oriented letters moving longitu;; dinally on edge andhaving-.stampsthereon adjacent 'thea same. corresponding. vertical;Aedge, ,in response to- ,elect-i 9. trical signals representative of thepresence of stamps upon said letters, comprising a damping Wall disposedin the path of said letter flow and perpendicular thereto,kinetic-energy-absorbing means coupled to said damping wall for bringingto rest input letters impinging upon said damping wall, a firststationary vacuum manifold on one side of the path of said input lettershaving a surface substantially perpendicular to said damping wall andad-Y jacent thereto, a second stationary vacuum manifold on the otherside of said letter path having a surface perpendicular to said dampingwall and adjacent thereto, a first continuous belt sliding against thesurface of said rst manifold, and moving perpendicular to said letterow, a second continuous belt sliding against the surface of said secondmanifold and moving similarly perpendicular to said letter flow, each ofsaid belts having a portion similarly inclined at an acute angle fromthe plane of its respective manifold surface, each of said manifoldshaving an array of apertures in its said surface abutting saidcontinuous belts and each of said belts having an array of apertures,said respective arrays being adapted to come into registry duringmovement of said belts relative to said manifold surfaces, the apertureson one of said arrays being elongated and of a length suicient toencompass at least every successive pair of registerable apertures ofthe other array, a vacuum pressure supply means for connecting saidvacuum pressure supply to said manifolds, first valve means interposedbetween said vacuum pressure supply and said tirst manifold, secondvalve means interposed between said vacuum supply and said secondmanifold, respective solenoid means coupled to each of said valve meansand each responsive to an electrical signal corresponding to a letterfor opening one of said valve means for connecting said vacuum pressuresupply to one of said manifolds synchronously with the impingement ofsaid letter on said damping wall, whereby vacuum pressure in saidmanifold is adapted to hold said letter against a respective belt fortransport therewith, pressure rollers resiliently urged against each ofthe inclined portions of said belts adjacent an edge of its respectivemanifold whereby said letters transported by said belts engage saidrollers and are displaced from the plane of the surface of saidmanifolds, conveying means below saidtbelt for receiving said letters,said conveying means having two longitudinal substantially upright wallsadjacent the longitudinal edges thereof, one of said walls beingspring-loaded and the other wall being adapted to oscillate transverseto the movement of said conveying means for aligning said letters onsaid conveying means, means for oscillating said oscillating wall, meansapplying a plurality of jets of air along each inclined portion of eachbelt in the direction of movement of said belts for rotating saidletters onto the said conveying means as said letters are disengaged bysaid pressure rollers, the letters of one said belt being rotated in anopposite direction from the letters of the other belt so that the saidletters have the stamps thereon positioned similarly and faced in thesame direction, means for periodically advancing said conveying means adistance less than the length of said letters in timed relation toimpingement of said letters on said damping wall, whereby said lettersare positioned in successive overlapping relation, and accumulatingmeans adjacent the end of said conveying means in the path of saidletters thereon for receiving said letters in a shingled stack.

3. An apparatus for facing and stacking a high velocity longitudinalflow of letters having stamps thereon adjacent the same correspondingvertical edge in response to electrical signals representative of theface of said letter on which the said stamp thereon is located,comprising: a pair of stationary vacuum manifolds oppositely positionedastride the input letter ow, each of said manifolds having a verticalsurface parallel to the plane to rest adjacent said manifolds, a firstcontinuous belt sliding against the vertical surface of one of saidmani-- folds and moving perpendicularly to said letter ow, a' secondcontinuous belt sliding against the vertical surface of the other ofsaid manifolds and moving similarly perpendicularly to said letter flow,each of said belts having an inclined portion at an acute angle from theplane of its respective manifold face, each of said manifolds having anaperture in their respective Surfaces, each of said belts having atleast one aperture in registration with said aperture in theirrespective manifold in one or more predetermined positions of said belt,a vacuum pressure` supply, a means for connecting said vacuum pressuresupply to each of said manifolds, value means interposed between saidvacuum supply and each of said mani-A folds, respective means coupled toeach of said valve means and each responsive to said electrical signalcorresponding to a letter for opening one of said valve means forconnecting said vacuum pressure supply to one of said manifoldssynchronously as the said letter comes to rest between said manifolds,whereby vacuum pressure in said manifold is adapted to hold the saidletter corresponding to said electrical signal against a respective beltfor transport therewith, pressure rollers resiliently urged rotatingsaid letters onto said conveying means as said letters are disengaged bysaid pressure rollers with saidy letters on the rst mentioned belt beingrotated in an opposite direction from the said letters of the secondmentioned belt, so that said letters falling on said conveying meanshave stamps thereon positioned similarly and are faced in the samedirection, means for periodically ad` vancing said conveying means intimed relation to the placing of each of said letters thereon forpositioning said letters in successive overlapping relation, anoscillatory wall adjacent a longitudinal edge of said conveying meansand adjacent a longitudinal edge of said letters thereon, means foroscillating said wall transversely to the ow of said letters, wherebysaid wall during oscillation is urged periodically against thelongitudinal edges' of said letters to dress them, and an upwardlyinclined surface in the path of said letters adjacent to the end of saidconveying means for accumulating said letters in a stack.

4. An apparatus for facing and stacking a high velocity longitudinal owof letters having stamps thereon adjacent the same correspondingvertical edge in response to electrical signals representative of theface of said letter on which the said stamp thereon is located,comprising: a pair of stationary vacuum manifolds oppositely positionedastride the input letter ow, each of said manifolds having a verticalsurface parallel to the plane in which said letters ow, means forbringing said letters to rest adjacent said manifolds, a rst continuousbelt sliding against the vertical surface of one of said' the plane ofits respective manifold face, each of said manifolds having an aperturein their respective sur-` faces, each of said belts having at least oneaperture in registration with said aperture in their respective mani-vfold in one or more predetermined positions of said belt,v

a vacuum pressure supply, means for connecting said vacuum pressuresupply to each of said manifolds, valve' afgezaagd if means. interposedbetweenk said vacuum supply and each ofi said manifolds, respectivemeans coupled to each ofY said valve means and each responsive to saidelectrical signal corresponding toV a letter for opening one of saidvalve means for connecting said vacuum pressure supply'to one of saidmanifolds synchronously as the said letter comes to rest between saidmanifolds, whereby" vacuum pressure in said manifold is adapted to holdthe saidV letter corresponding to said electrical signal against a.respective4 belt for transport therewith, pressure rollers `letters onsaid conveying means, means. oscillating said oscillating wall, means;applying a.. plurality ofjets of air along each inclined portion ofeachbelt in the direction. of movement ofv said belts for rotating said.letters onto said.v conveying means as said letters are disengaged byYsaid pressure rollers, the letters of said first mentioned belt. beingrotated in an opposite direction from the letters of. the secondmentioned belt so that the letters having. stamps thereon are positionedsimilarly and faced inthe same direction, and means for periodicallyadvancing; said conveying means a distance less thanV the l'engthof saidletters in timed relation to the. placing ofY each of. said lettersthereon, whereby said letters are positioned in successive overlappingrelation.

5. An apparatus for facing and stacking a high velocityy planar flow of'letters having stamps located similarly thereon in relation to thelength of the letters. in

response to electricalV signals representative of the face.

of. said letters on which the said stamp thereon is located,ycomprising: a pair of stationary vacuum manifolds each having asubstantially vertically disposed surface adjacent the plane in whichsaid input letters flow, means for bringing said letters to restadjacent said manifolds, aiirst continuous belt sliding against thevertical` surface at an angle from the plane ofV its respective manifoldface., ay vacuum pressure supply, means for connecting said vacuumpressureV supply to said manifolds, means responsiveto said electricalsignal for connecting said vacuum pressure supply to one of saidmanifolds syn.

chronously asrthe said letter `correspondingto said electr-ical' signalcomes. to rest adjacent said manifolds,

whereby said letter corresponding to said electrical sig nal is held byvacuum pressure against the belt abutting the manifold having the vacuumpressure applied thereto so as to transport the said letter therewith,resilient means urged against each of the inclined portion of each ofsaid belts whereby the said letters engaging said means are displacedfromvv the plane ofthe surface of said manifold, conveying Vmeans belowsaid belts, means for rotating the letters ,from eachr of said beltssubstantially 90 degrees from the plane in which the said input lettersflow with the letters of the first mentioned belt being rotated in anopposite sense than those of the.

second mentioned belt, so that the said letters havethe stamps thereonpositioned 'similarly and faced inthe adjacent. a longitudinal edge Yofsaid letters thereon,

means for oscillating said wa-ll transversely to the iiow ofsaidletters,whereby` said wall during oscillation is 'of one of saidmanifolds, a second continuous belt slid` i ingA against the verticalsurface of the other of said. manifolds, eachl of said belts having aportion inclined.

- I2 urged periodically against e longitudinal edges of said letters to.dress them, and an upwardly inclined surface in the path of said lettersadjacent to the end of said conveyor belt for accumulating said articlesin a stackl 6. vAn apparatus for facing and stacking a high velocityplanar flow of letters having stamps located similarly thereon inrelation to the length of the letters in Y"response to electricalsignals representative Vof the face of said letters on which the saidstamp thereon is located, comprising: a'pair of stationary vacuummanifolds each having a substantially vertically disposed surfaceadjacent the plane in which said input letters ow, means. for bringingsaid letters to'rest adjacent said manifolds,

-a first continuous belt sliding against the vertical sur-- facev of oneof said manifolds, a second continuousY belt sliding against thevertical edge of the other of said. manifolds, each of said belts havinga portion inclined at an angle from the. plane of its respectivemanifold face, a vacuum pressure supply, means for connecting` saidvacuum pressure supply to said manifolds, means responsive to said.electrical signal for connecting said vacuum pressure supply to one ofsaid manifolds syn-y chronously as'the said letter corresponding to saidelectrical Vsignal comes to rest adjacent said manifolds, whereby saidletter corresponding to said electrical signal. is held by vacuumpressure against the belt abutting the manifold having the'vacuumpressure applied thereto so as to. transport the said letter therewith,resilient. means urged' against each of the inclined portions of each ofsaid belts whereby the said letters engaging said means are displacedfrom the plane of the surfacey of said manifold, conveying means belowsaid belts, means` for rotating the letters from. each of said beltssubstantially 90 degrees from the plane in which the said input lettersow with the letters from the first mentioned belt rotated in an oppositesense than those of the second. mentioned belt, so that the said lettershave the stamps. thereon positioned similarly and face in the samedirec.- tion, means for periodically advancing said conveying means adistance less than the length of said letters in timed relation to theplacing of each of said letters thereon, whereby said letters arepositioned in successive overlapping relation, means for dressing saidletters as said conveying means advances, collecting means adjacent tothe end of the conveying means and in the path of said letters foraccumulating said letters in a shingled stack.

7. An apparatusv for facing and stacking a planar ow A of at lightarticles .having a predetermined character-- isticA on` one face inresponse to electrical signals, each signal being representative of theface ofav respectivearticle on which said characteristic is located,compris` ingr a pluralityY of stationary vacuum manifolds, each manifoldhaving a surface adjacent and parallel to thel plane in which saidarticles flow, means for bringing said articles to rest adjacent thesurfaces of said` manifolds, a plurality of endless belts with each ofsaidbelts sliding against the surfaceV of a respective one of saidmanifolds, a source of subatmospheric pressure, means responsive to eachof said electrical signals forapplying said pressure Yto one of saidmanifolds synchronously with the'coming to rest of the articlecorresponding to said electrical signal adjacent the said one manifold,means applyingY the pressure of said manifold toV said article forholding it positively against the belt abutting the said manifold duringmovement of said belt whereby said article is transported thereby,conveying means below said belts for receiving said articles, meansldisplacing said articles from the plane parallel to the surfaces of saidmanifolds and transferring' said articles from their respective beltsonto said conveying means whereby the face of the. said articles havingthe. aforemeans. a distance lessV thanv thelongitudinal dimensione 13 ofVsaid articles in timed relation to the placing of each of saidarticles, whereby said articles are positioned in successive overlappingrelation, means dressing said articles as said conveying means advances,and collecting means adjacent the end of the conveying means and in thepath of said articles for accumulating said articles in a shingledstack.

8. An apparatus for facing and stacking a planar ow of flat lightarticles having a predetermined characteristic on one face in responseto electrical signals, each signal being representative of the face of arespective article on which said characteristic is located, comprising aplurality of stationary vacuum manifolds, each manifold having a surfaceadjacent and parallel to the plane in which said articles now, means forbringing said articles to rest adjacent the surfaces of said manifolds,a plurality of endless belts with each of said belts sliding against thesurface of a respective one of said manifolds, a source ofsubatmospheric pressure, means responsive to each of said electricalsignals for applying said pressure to one of said manifoldssynchronously with the coming to rest of the article corresponding tosaid` electrical signal adjacent the said one manifold, means applyingthe pressure of said manifold to said article for holding it positivelyagainst the belt abutting the said manifold during movement of said beltWhereby said articles is transported thereby, conveying means below saidbelts for receiving said articles, means displacing said articles fromthe plane parallel to the surfaces of said manifolds and transferringsaid articles from their respective belts onto said conveying meanswhereby the face of the said articles having the aforementionedcharacteristics thereon are similarly positioned, and means forperiodically advancing said conveying means a distance less than thelongitudinal dimension of said articles in timed relation to the placingof each of said articles whereby said articles are positioned insuccessive overlapping relation.

. 9. An apparatus for facing and stacking a high velocity planar ow offlat light articles having a predetermined characteristic on one face inresponse to electrical signals, each signal being representative of theface of a respective article on which said characteristic is located,comprising a plurality of stationary vacuum manifolds, each manifoldhaving a surface adjacent and parallel to the plane in which saidarticles flow, means for bringing said articles to rest adjacent thesurfaces of said manifolds, a plurality of continuous belts with each'of said belts sliding against the surface of a respective one of saidmanifolds, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure, means responsive toeach of said electrical signals for applying said'pressure to one ofsaid manifolds synchronously with the coming to rest of the articlecorresponding to said electrical signal adjacent said one manifold,means applying the pressure of said manifold to said article for holdingit positively against the belt abutting the said manifold duringmovement of said belt whereby said article is transported thereby,conveying means below said belts for receiving said articles, meansdisplacing said articles from the plane parallel to the surfaces of saidmanifolds and transferring said articles from their respective beltsonto said conveying means whereby the face of the said articles havingthe aforementioned characteristics thereon are similarly positioned,means for periodically advancing said conveying means a distance lessthan the longitudinal dimcnsion of said articles in timed relation tothe placing of each of said articles whereby said articles arepositioned in successive overlapping relation, an oscillatory walladjacent the longitudinal edge of said conveyor belt and adapted to beoscillated transversely to the flow of said articles whereby the saidwall during oscillation is urged against the longitudinal edges of saidarticles and an upwardly inclined surface in the path of said 14articles adjacent to the end of said conveyor belt for accumulating saidarticles in a stack.

10. An apparatus for facing a high velocity horizontal stream of lettersmoving longitudinally on edge in a vertical plane and having stampsthereon adjacent the same corresponding vertical edge in response toelectrical signals representative of the presence of stamps upon saidletters, comprising: a damping wall disposed in the path of said letterflow and perpendicular thereto, kinetic-energy-absorbing means coupledto said damping Wall for bringing to rest input letters impinging uponsaid damping wall, a first stationary vacuum manifold on one side of thepath of said input letters having a surface substantially perpendicularto said damping wall and adjacent thereto, a second stationary vacuummanifold on the other side of said letter path having a surfacesubstantially perpendicular to said damping wall and adjacent thereto, arst continuous belt sliding against the surface of said first manifold,and moving perpendicular to the direction of the said letter iiow, asecond continuous belt sliding against the surface of said secondmanifold and moving in the same direction as the said rst belt, each ofsaid belts having a similarly inclined portion at an acute angle fromthe plane of its respective manifold surface, ,each of said manifoldshaving an array of apertures in its surface abutting its continuous beltand each of said belts having an array of apertures, said respectivearrays being adapted to come into registry during movement of said beltrelative to said manifold surface, an aperture on one of said arraysbeing elongated and of a length suicient to encompass at least everysuccessive pair of registerable apertures of the other array, a vacuumpressure supply, means for connecting said vacuum pressure supply tosaid manifolds, rst valve means interposed between said vacuum pressuresupply and rst manifold, second valve means interposed between saidvacuum supply and said second manifold, respective solenoid meanscoupled to each of said valve means and each responsive to an electricalsignal corresponding to a letter for opening one of said valve means forconnecting said vacuum pressure supply to one of said manifoldssynchronously with the impingement of said letter on said damping Wall,whereby Vacuum pressure in said manifold is adapted to hold the lettercorresponding to said electrical signal against a respective belt fortransport therewith, pressure rollers resiliently urged against each ofthe inclined portions of each of said belts adjacent an edge of itsrespective manifold surface whereby said letters transported by saidbelts engage said rollers and are displaced from the plane of thesurface of said manifolds and means applying a plurality of air jetsalong each inclined portion of each of said belts in the direction ofmovement of said belt, for rotating the said letters onto a horizontalplane as said letters are disengaged by said pressure rollers, theletters of one belt being rotated in an opposite direction from theletters of the other belt, so that the said letters have the stampsthereon positioned similarly and faced in the same direction. l

ll. An apparatus for facing a high velocity longitudinal ow of lettershaving stamps thereon adjacent the same corresponding vertical edge inresponse to electrical signals representative of the face of said letteron which the said stamp thereon is located, comprising: a pair ofstationary vacuum manifolds oppositely positioned astride the inputletter flow, each of said manifolds having a vertical surface parallelto the plane in which said letters flow, means for bringing said lettersto rest adjacent said manifolds, a rst continuous belt sliding againstthe vertical surface of one of said manifolds and moving perpendicularlyto said letter ow, a second continuous belt sliding against the verticalsurface of the other of said manifolds, and moving similarlyperpendicularly to said letter flow, each of said belts having aninclined portion at an acute angle from the plane of its respectivemanifold face,y each of said manifolds having an aperture in theirrespective surfaces, each of said belt's'- having at least one aperturein registration with said aperture in their respective manifold in oneyor more predetermined positions of said belt, a vacuum pressuresupp1y,'means for connecting said vacuum pressuresupply toY eachY of tsaid manifolds, valve means interposed between said vac-V num supply andeach of said manifolds, Arespective 'means'- Y coupled to each of saidvalve means and each responsivetosaid electrical signal corresponding toa letter for opening one ofsaid valve means for connecting saidA vacuumpressure supply to one of said manifolds synchronously vas the saidletter comes Yto rest between said manifolds, whereby vacuum pressure insaid rrianifcaldl isf "adapted to hold the said letter corresponding tosaid- Vrotating the said letters onto la vhorizontal plane asthesaidletters become disengaged by said'pres'sure rollers,

y with the said letters of the iirst mentioned belt being rotated in anopposite direction fromv the said! letters of the second mentionedV beltso that. thesaid letters fallingv on said horizontal plane have thestamps: thereon positioned similarly and are faced inthe same direction;Y

12.'An apparatus for facing" a high velocity planar` Iflow of lettershaving stamps located similarly thereonin relation to the length of theletters in response to elec-v trical signal-s representative of theface' of said lettersl on which the said stamp thereon is located,comprising a pair of stationary vacuum manifolds each having asubstantially vertically disposed surface-adjacent 'the plane,

Y in which said input letters,` flow, means' for bringing saidletters'to rest adjacent said manifolds, a first continuousy beltsliding against theY vertical surface of one of said manifolds, a secondcontinuous beltsliding against the vertical surface of the other of saidmanifolds-,feach of .Said belts having a portion inclined at an angle"from the plane of its respective manifold face, a vacuum' pressuresupply, means for connecting said vacuum pressure" supply to saidmanifolds, means responsive to said electrical signal for connectingsaid vacuum pressure supply:

um pressure applied thereto so as lto transport the YletterY therewith,resilient means urged against each of the in'- clined portions Vof eachof saidv 4belts'whereby theV saidV letters engaging said means aredisplaced from the plane' of the surface of said manifold, and means forrotating the letters from each of said belts' substantiallyv 90 de-Agrees from the plane in which the said input lettersr flow, withV theletters from the rst mentioned belt being rotated in an opposite sensethan those of the second-men tioned belt, so that said letters have the*stamps thereon n positioned similarly and facedvin the same direction;V

' 13. An apparatus for facing a yhigh Veloci-ty planar" ilow of fiatlight articles having a predeterniinedfy char-V acteristic on one facein response to electrical signalsv each signal being representative ofthe face of la respec- Vtive article on which said characteristic islocated, com--Y prising aA plurality7 of stationary vacuum manifolds,each manifold'having a Isurface adjacent and parallel toV piane' inwhich said articles flow, means for bringing said' articlestorestadjacent the' surfaces of said manifolds, a; plurality of endless'beltsrwith eachof said belts'slidf ingl against the-surface ofarrespecitve one offsadm folds, asource Q' sub-atmospheric pressure;nieaiisre 1'6 speisve to: each if said Y etefriet signalfc applying saidpressure to' one of said manifolds Vsvneli'rons1y' With thecoming forestof the article correspondingvf6v said electrical signal adjacents'aidfonje' manifold, mas` applying ythe pressure f said manifeiifo'saia article for' holding -it positively gain'st'f the belt abuttingthe said manifold during movement of said belt whereby said articleistransported thereby', and means displacing Athe said articlesvfromrthe plane parallel' tothe stuff-'facesy of,v said manifolds andremoving the said articles from rtheir respective beltsy whereby thefacesV ofY the Vsaid having theaforementioned characteristics thereonare similarly positioned. A c 1 'y l n 14. Apparatus for facing a' high`velocitylinear novi of' copianar light nat. articles, eachv navin'gpredeter: mined characteristic ori one face, in response toV electricalsignals, each signal being repre'se1`1tativ.='v ofthe facefof alrespective' article on which saidcharact'eristic occurs,4V comprising a'pair of'article'trans'porters located ony either sid'eof the plane ofthe said articlesand along the path thereof, means for' bringing each ofsaid articles torestVV Vlnetween said transporters-,1 means' responsiveto eachof said electrical signals representativeof 'the' occurrence" ofsaidI characteristic on one predetermined face' of said articls'androperativef in timedrelation' to the halting of. an' articlecorresponding to said signal Yfor causing'on" of. saidarticles'transporters toV engage' said halted articles,v means'responsive to each of said electrical? signals repre; sent-ative of theoccurrencef of said' characteristic onA the" opposite face of saidlarticles and' operative in timed relation: to the halting of an'article' corresponding to said: signal for causing the otherV of said?article transporters torv engage said latter halted` article, each ofsaid transeA porters comprising means for conveyingiits engaged articlestransversely of and coplanarly withY the path of said" article 'ow andmeans cooperating with each ot said transporters for thereafterdisengaging'said conveyedarticles therefrom, and for rotatingy saidconveye'd arti` cles into'a plane at an angle to theplane of saidarticles in said flow, the directions of rotations for said two'trans-t' porters being oppositeV to` one another, whereby-said Yconr`veyed articles are respectively rotated tojhave' their char#4aeteristic-bearing faces similarly positioned.

1'5; Apparatus for facing' a hightvelocity linear'ofw of coplanar lightvflat articles, each'V having a predeter-z Y mined characteristic none`face,'in@response to electrical signals, each signal beingvrepresentative of the facci: of a 'respective article on which said:characteristicoccurs, comprising a pair o'f Varticletransporters locatedon either sideV of the plane of saidarticles and along the` path`thereof, means operative synchronously withgthe arrival ofan articlebetween'saidl transporters' and 1re; sponsive to the electrical signalcorresponding to said article for causingfon'e or the othergof4 said'transporters to' engage said articleV inV accordance withwhich'facepisaid articles bears said characteristic, each of said trans-2porters comprising means for* conveying Vits Vengaged ar.-

ticles away fromA the pathzof said article ow,rand means'7 cooperating'with* e'ach'of 'saldi transportersV for rotating` the'planes of thearticlesvconveyedfthereby throughsuhb-- stantiallyy 90 degrees, thedirections of *rotationsl for sail two transporters being yrelativelyopposite to one anothen: wherebyY lsaid conveyed Iarticles* arevrespectlvc'elyy rotated tohave: their characteristic-bearing facessimilarly,posi-V ti'oned;4i t v f t* Y I 16i Apparatusforcorrespondinglylfacing alinear of f coplanar lightat'rarticl'es eachhaving a'predeter'-v mined characteristicon oneface or'thef otherthereof, corri? prisingl. meansl for selectively engagingl articles ofsaid? new having said characteristic on a givenjfacef,man`s`i foi-'rotating" the plane of said engaged"v articles substanl tially 910''degrees in a`predjeterrniiiedy direction, nieaitis'Y for selectivelyengaging articles of said cha' acteri'stic onfan oppositeface, and"means fror'rotatln'gthei piane pif snellader: engaged articles'substantially 9o deAV grees in an opposite direction, whereby saidarticles are caused to have their characteristic-bearing faces similarlypositioned.

17. Apparatus for sorting articles from a stream of light at articlescomprising a vacuum manifold having a surface parallel and adjacent tothe plane of said articles, a belt slidable along said manifold surfacetransversely of said flow, one belt and surface having registerableapertures, and means responsive to accurrence of selected ones of saidarticles adjacent said surface for causing said articles to be engagedby said belt and transported thereby transversely of said stream.

18. An apparatus for stacking letters of two intermittent irregularlyspaced, vertically flowing streams of vertically oriented letterscomprising a horizontal conveyor belt in the path of said streams ofletters for receiving said letters, means for rotating said letterssubstantially 90 degrees onto said belt, means for periodicallyadvancing said belt in timed relation to the placement of each of saidletters thereon, to position said le*- ters in successive overlappingrelation, an oscillatory wall adjacent one longitudinal edge of saidconveying means and adjacent a longitudinal edge of the letters thereon,means for oscillating said Wall transversely to the ow of said letters,whereby the said Wall during oscillation is urged periodically againstthe longitudinal edges of said letters to dress them, and an upwardlyinclined surface in the path of said letters adjacent to the edge ofsaid conveying means for accumulating said letters inastack.

19. An apparatus for stacking letters of two intermittent, irregularlyspaced, vertically owing streams of vertically oriented letterscomprising a horizontal conveyor belt in the path of said streams ofletters for receiving said letters, means for rotating said letterssubstantially 90 degrees onto said belt, and means for periodicallyadvancing said belt in timed relation to the placement of each of saidletters thereon, to position said letters in successive overlappingrelation, an oscillatory wall adjacent one longitudinal edge of saidconveying means and adjacent a longitudinal edge of the letters thereon,means for oscillating said wall transversely to the ow of said letters,whereby the said wall during oscillation is urged periodically againstthe longitudinal edges of said letters to dress them.

20. An apparatus for facing and stacking a high velocity planar iioW offiat light articles having a predetermined characteristic on one face inresponse to electrical signals, each signal being representative of theface of a respective article on which said characteristic is 1ocated,comprising a plurality of stationary vacuum manifolds, each manifoldhaving a surface adjacent and parallel to the plane in which saidarticles how, means for bringing said articles to rest adjacent thesurfaces of said manifolds, a plurality of continuous belts with each ofsaid belts sliding against the surface of a respective one of saidmanifolds, a source of sub-atmospheric pressure, means responsive toeach of said electric signals for api plying Said pressure to one ofsaid manifolds synchron? ously with the coming to rest of the articlecorresponding to said electrical signal adjacent said one'manifold,means applying the pressure of said manifold to said article for holdingit positively against the belt abutting the said manifold duringmovement of said belt whereby said article is transported thereby,conveying means below said belts for receiving said articles, meansdisplacing said articles from the plane parallel to the surfaces of saidmanifolds and transferring said articles from their respective beltsonto said conveying means whereby the face of the said articles havingthe aforementioned characteristics thereon are similarly positioned,means for periodically advancing said conveying means a distance lessthan the longitudinal dimension or said articles in timed relation tothe placing of each of said articles whereby said articles arepositioned in successive overlapping relation, and an oscillatory Walladjacent the longitudinal edge of said conveyor belt and adapted to beoscillated transversely to the How of said articles whereby the saidwall during oscillation is urged against the longitudinal edges of saidarticles and an upwardly inclined surface in the path of said articlesadjacent to the end of said conveyor belt for accumulating said articlesin a stack.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNiTED STATES `PATENTS1,548,350 Y@ierland Aug. 4, 1925 1,619,787 Elder Mar. 1, 1927 2,759,600sayior Aug. 21, 1956 2,776,831 shields Jan. s, 1957

